Sheet feeding device



July 3, 1934. l G. splEss 1,964,931 SHEET EEEDING DEVICE Filed May 29. 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 3, 1934. G. sPlEss SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1931 Patented July 3, 1934 VUNITED STATES 1,964,931 snr-:ET FEEDmG 'DEVICE Georg Spiess, Leipzig, Germany Application May 29, 1931, Serial No. 540,968 Germany February 19, 1930 12 Claims. (Cl. 271-38) I have led applications in Germany on Feb.

19, 1930, Aug. 28, 1930, Nov. 26, 1930, Dec. l, 1930; Sweden May 6, 1931; Great Britain May 4, 1931. The present invention relates to sheet feeding devices and more particularly to a sheet feeding device wherein the is automatically controlled from the pile itself by the employment of a ratchet and pawl gear operating upon the pile feeding means, which is lo controlled by a device operated by the pile in such manner that according to requirements it either performs useful work or runs idly. The known device comprising a coupling controlled by the sheet controlling device and arranged in the linkage actuating the means for feeding the sheets forward or a ratchet and pawl gear directly connected with the aforesaid means the pawl of which is controlled by the device governing the feed of the' sheet, has the disadvantage 2o that the linkage connected to the ratchet and pawl gear of the sheet feeding means prevents free access to the feed table and gives rise to considerable noise as a result of knocking, which may be very troublesome, particularly at high rotational speeds The principal object of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantagesand with the object in view the ratchet and pawl gear is arranged on the frame of the sheet feeding device separately from the sheet feeding means and is directly connected with the pile control device by which it is actuated and adjusted, the said ratchet and pawl gear driving the sheet feeding means by means of rotating driving members. The sheet feeding means are arranged in such manner that they do not prevent free access to the pile table. 'Ihe invention resides more particularly in the feature that by the action of a control member which is itself controlled by the position of the front end of the pile, a further control member is actuated so -as to prevent or permit the engagement with the ratchet, of the pawl of the ratchet and pawl gear connected with the rotating driving members of the sheet feeding means. Y Y

According to the invention the control member consists of a segment which is provided with ratchet teeth, a recess serving for the reception of the operative members and a guide track upon which the said operative members are adapted to run idly, and which segment, iust according as the front edge of the pile does not or does influence a control device, either swings freely together with the pawl lever of the ratchet and pawl gear or is locked by means of a pawl through the agency of a piston actuated by the sheet controlling means, for instance by means of a suction nozzle arranged on the pile table. In this way the result is attained' that the foro0 ward feed of the pile is pliiied and reliable feed of a fanned out pile.

operation of the apparatus is ensured, whilst in addition to this the operation of the apparatus even when running at the highest speed is rendered entirely noiseless.

A preferred constructional form of the sheet feeding device according to the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, as applied to a sheet feeding device for fanned out piles, wherein the separation of the sheets from the pile is effected by means of suction members. It will, ofcourse, be understood that the invention may be similarly applied to a sheet feeding device operated by means of grippers or other devices.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken elevation of a sheet feeding device according to the invention, shown diagrammatically, all parts not necessary for the comprehension of the invention being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a plan drawn similarly to Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 shows a part of Fig. 1 withthe operative members of the ratchet and pawl gear in a different position.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 `de notes the frame of the sheet feeding device. In this frame the main shaft 2 (by which is meant the shaft which performs one revolution during one working operation) is journalled, and upon the shaft 2 a cam disc 3 is mounted by means of which a pawl carrying lever 5 which is loosely journalled on a shaft 6 is moved to and fro by means of a connecting rod 4. The Vlever 5 is provided at its end witha pawl 8 which is mounted on a pin 'i and also with a. roller 10 adapted to rotate about a pin 9, and is urged by means of a spring 11 against the teeth of a ratchet 12, which is keyed on to a shaft 6 journalled in the frame l. The rotational movements of the ratchet 12 caused by the action ofthe pawl 8 are transmitted through the agency of a bevel wheel 13 rigidly mounted on the shaft 6, through the bevel wheel 14, shaft 15, bevel wheels 16, 17 and pinions 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 to a pile conveying roller 23. The axle 24 upon which the pinion 19 is mounted is provided in known manner with rollers 25. By means of these rollers and cooperating rollers 26, bands 28 are led over a pile table 27, said rollers in conjunction with the pile conveying roller 23 and conveying bands 29 passing over rollers 25 effect the forward -feed of the pile.

The forward feeding limited by a suction nozzle 30 opening on to the surface of the feed table 27, which nozzle when it is overlapped by the front edge of the pile 32 to move in a casing 33 against the action -of a spring 34, by means of the vacuum produced in a suction conduit 31 by means of an air pump (not shown in the drawings) connected thereto. An

movement of the pile is adjustable piston rod connected to the piston 32 then presses upon the back of a pawl 36 and brings the latter into engagement with ratchet teeth provided on a segmental member 37 which s loosely mounted on the shaft 6 adjacent to the ratchet wheel 12 between this latter and the side of the frame 1 of the sheet feeding device, and in consequence of the action 0f a Spring 38 bears upon a projection 39 provided on an extension of the pin 7 and swings together with the lever 5. On the one end of the segmental member 37 a member 40 carrying ratchet teeth is fixed by screws. At the other end the segmental member is provided with a recess 41 acting as a stop for the pawl lever 8 in conjunction with the projection 39, and is further provided with a guide track 42 'arranged concentrically with the shaft 6.

On a shaft 43 journalled in the sides of the frame 1 and serving by the aid of a handle (not shown on the drawings) for controlling the air admission device, a bell crank lever is mounted the one arm 44 of which is provided with a ball catch member (not shown on the drawings) which drops into a recess 45 and maintains the ratchet and pawl devices in the positions determined by the stops 45 on which the arm 44 bears. In addition to the angle lever a catch member 47 is likewise provided at the end of the shaft 43, which catch member is loosely mounted on the shaft, is secured by means of an adjusting ring and is provided with a pin 48 which bears on a stop provided on the second arm 44a of the angle lever, in consequence of the action of a spring 49 connected to the catch member and the side of the frame respectively.

In the case of the constructional example described the bell cranlf. lever as shown in the gures is located in the position in which the air control device is not affected and can thus operate freely under the action of its cam control members. If, however, the shaft 43 is turned in such manner that the bell crank lever 44 is secured in position by the upper stop 45, i. e. is located in the position in which the air control device is out of action, then the catch member 47 follows the backwardly swinging arm 44a in as much as the pin 48 remains the contact with the stop of the arm 44a in consequence of lthe action of the spring 49. 0n the catch mem ber 47a recess 50 is provided which is adapted in the non-operative position of the air control device to enclose a pin 5l arranged laterally on the projection 39 of the segmental member 37 when the latter is swung back. If the shutting on of the air control device takes place, for example, at the moment when the projection 39 of the segmental member 37 rests on the pin 7 and is swung forward during the normal pile feeding operation together with the pawl lever 5, the pin 51 will be maintained in place by the recess during the next return swinging movement. The sheet feeding device may also continue to run idly when the air control device has been shut oilr or when it or the machine to` which it is connected is adjusted.

During the working stroke of the device the segmental member 37 swings over together with the pawl lever 5 under the action of the spring 38. 'I'he roller '10 rests in the recess 41 which is made of such a depth that the tooth of the pawl 8 can engage in the teeth of the ratchet 12 and can turn the latter forwards together with the `;pile conveying` roller 23 through the agency of the above described transmission gear; If,

however, the segmental member 37 is held in any given position as a consequence of the engagement of the pawl 36 with the ratchet teeth 40, the roller 10 rides out of the recess 41 on to the track 42, the radius of which is of such magnitude that the tooth of the pawl 8 cannot engage with the teeth of the ratchet 12, and the further operative movement of the pawl lever 5 at the conclusion of which the suction air acting on the nozzle 30 is shut oil', no'longer exerts any influence on the forward feeding movement of the pile. On the return of the pawl lever 5 the pin 7 carries the projection 39 and consequently also the segmental member 37 back into the initial position in which the suction air acting on the nozzle 30 is again put into operation, as a result of which the swinging movement of the segmental member is again rendered possible until the nozzle is once more covered by the succeeding sheet from the pile.

On the shaft 2 a cam disc 53 is mounted, which co-operates with a roller 54 provided on a. lever 55, which is fulcrumed on a transverse rod 56 mounted on the frame. On another transverse rod 57, which carries the feed table 27, bearings 58 for pivot pins 59 on which arms 60 are mounted, are provided at the two sides of the table. The said arms 60 carry at their ends a raising hatten 61 and form with this latter and a transverse rod 62 a rigid frame, which bears through the medium of a laterally located roller 63 on a bearing surface provided on the lever 55. The raising hatten will thus be raised and lowered during a working operation in correspondence with the movements of the lever 55 caused by the cam disc 53, the raising movement taking place when a sheet is brought by the sheet lifting device 52 on to the Sheet delivery roller 64 (which is of known type). During the feeding of the sheet any other sheets which may have been drawn along with it strike against the rear side of the raising batten and do not reach the delivering roller. At the extreme front end of the pile table 27, immediately behind the rear side of the raising hatten 61 a feeler nozzle 30 is arranged which is connected on the one hand by means of a conduit 65 with the air control device (not shown) and on the other hand by means-of the conduit 31 with the cylinder 33 in which the piston 32 is located.

The pile table 27 is located sufficiently low down with regardto the delivering roller 64 to provide a certain distance between the sheet which is drawn oil and the feeler nozzle. This is, however, insudcient, particularly with high speeds of rotation, to ensure that the sheet shall not contact again with the feeler nozzle. It is only by means of the arrangement of the raising hatten 61 that the sheet is moved so far away from the feeler nozzle 30 that it can no longer be sucked up by the latter (Fig. 3).

During the operation of lifting the sheet off, the suction is put into operation in the conduit of the lifting device 52, and is put out of operation in the suction conduit 65 of the feeler nozzle 30. In order to facilitate the separation of the sheets, brushes 66 or the like are preferably fixed to the raising batten 61 in proximity to the lifting devices 52, the said brushes 66 or the like serving to wipe away any second sheet-or sheets which may have been lifted together with the top one by the lifting device. In addition to this in proximity to the brushes air blast members 67 are provided which loosen the pile in known manner by means of a blast of air at the places at which the lifting devices operate. In the constructional example shown, in the form of a suctionoperated delivering roller 64, which is driven from the shaft 2 by means of pinions 68, 69 (Fig. 2) and is moved laterally to-and-fro by means of a swinging lever '70 once in the course of a working operation, a hollow shaft 71 carrying the suction nozzles of the roller 64 being meanwhile guided in a longitudinal slot 73 provided in a guide member 74. The sheet which is brought on to the delivering roller 64 by the sheet lifting device 52 or the grippers (not shown in the drawings) of the latter is fed forwards and laterally by the delivering roller when the suction is in operation, so that the corner of the next sheet on the pile is immediately exposed and is ready for the lifting device 52 to operate upon it. In order to utilize to the full extent the extraordinary rapidity of feed of the sheets obtained in this way, it is essential to employ the arrangement of the raising batten according to the invention so as to avoid the occurrence of disturbances in the control of the sheet feeding operation.

It will, of course, be understood that the raising batten. can also be advantageouslyemployed with any other sheet feeding devi e having any desired sheet lifting and advancin device, and

likewise in cases where instead ofthe suction feeler nozzle another device, for example, a gripper, is employed for controlling the feed, in order to avoid repeated operation of the control member by one and the same sheet whilst the latter is still being drawn off the pile.

I claim as my invention:

1. A paper feeding machine having in combination, a table, means for feeding a. feathered bank of sheets to the table, pneumaticmeans cooperating with the front end of the bank for controlling the feed of the bank to maintain its front end in substantially uniform position, vertically movable mechanical means for lifting the foremost sheet, and means to actuate the vertically movable means n unison with the operation of the pneumatic means.

2. A sheet feeding device for feeding a fanned out pile of sheets to sheet separating devices, wherein for the purpose.I of compensating Vfor the irregularities in feeding caused by the non-uniformity of the position of the sheets with regard to one another, the forward feed movement of the pile is controlled-by Vthe position of the front end of the pile itself by the employment of suction nozzles arranged beneath the pile and cooperating with a poppet piston and ratchet and pawl gear yincluding a pawl arm oscillatably mounted to support a pawl operating upon the pile feeding means characterized in that the piston (32) cooperating with the suction control-nozzle (30) operates upon a member (37) elastically and yieldingly connected to the pawl arm and guiding the pawl (8) Vof the ratchet and pawl gear which eec'ts the pile feeding movement in such manner that when the v nozzle (30) is closed the pawl` (8) vis prevented by a guide track (42) on the said member ('37) from engaging with the'ratchet (12), and when the nozzle Yis not closed the said pawl (8) is adapted to engage the said ratchet.

3. A sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that between the front end of the pile table (2"1) or the control device (30) respectively and the sheet feeding roller (64) a raising batten (61) actuated by a shaft (2) is arranged which lifts the sheet which is about to be drawn o to sucl an extent thatxit can no longer come under the actionof the control device.

4. A sheet feeding device for feeding a fanned out pile of sheets to sheet separating devices, wherein for the purpose of compensating for the irregularities in feeding caused by the non-uniformity ofthe position of the sheets with regard to one another, the forward feed movement of the pile is controlled by the position of the front end of the pile itself by the employmentof suction nozzles arranged beneath the pile and cooperating with a poppet piston and a ratchet and pawl gear operating upon the pile feeding means characterized in that the piston (32) cooperating with the suction control-nozzle (30) operates upon a member (37) elastically and yieldingly connected to the pawl arm and guiding the pawl (8) of the ratchet and pawl gear which effects the pile feeding movement, in such a manner that when the ling the feed of the bank to maintain its front end in substantially uniform position, and mechanical means for lifting the foremost sheet in unison with the operation of the pneumatic means, said mechanical means acting as a stop for the next sheet below.

6. A paper feeding machine having in combination, a table, means for feeding a feathered bank of sheets to the table, pneumatic means cooper- 1 ating with the front end of the bank for controlling the feed of the bank to maintain its front end in substantially uniform position, mechanical means for lifting the foremost sheet in unison with the operation of the pneumatic means, said mechanical means acting as a stop for the next sheet below, and brushes carried by said mechanical means and engageable with the sheet next the pivoted concentrically of the ratchet wheel and having a cam portion whereon said roller rests,

-said cam portion having a low part wherein the roller normally rests to permit engagement of the pawl and ratchet and having a high part for permitting oscillation of the pawl free from the ratchet, means for constantlyoxscillating the pawl arm, said segment normally oscillating with said pawl arm and with the roller on the low part, and pneumatic means controlled by the position of the foremost sheet for holding the segment against movement' and releasing theV segment for movement. 1

8. A paper feeding machine having in combione end and engaging the last pawl, a suction 4nation, a table, a paper feeding roll arranged to tube connected to the cylinder at the end adjafeed a feathered bank of sheets to and along the cent the second pawl, a suction nozzle branching table, a ratchet wheel geared to the roll to operfrom said tube and opening through the table 5 ate the same, a swinging pawl arm pivoted conbeneath the forward end of the foremost sheet, 80

centrically of the ratchet wheel, a pawl pivoted and mechanical means for lifting the foremost at one end to the arm and engaging the ratchet sheet to cause opening of the nozzle. Wheel at its other end, a roller on said pawl, a 11. A paper feeding machine having in comsegment pivoted concentrically of the ratchet bination, a table, a paper feeding roll arranged wheel and having a cam portion whereon said to feed a feathered bank of sheets to and along 85 roller rests, said cam portion having a low part the table, a ratchet wheel geared to the roll to wherein the roller normally rests to permit enoperate the same, a swinging pawl arm pivoted gagement of the pawl and ratchet and having a concentrically of the ratchet wheel, a pawl pivhigh part for permitting oscillation of the pawl oted at one end to the arm and engaging the l5 free from the ratchet, means for constantly oscilratchet wheel at its other end, a roller on said 90 lating the pawl arm, said segment normally oscilpawl, a segment pivoted concentrically of the lating with said pawl arm and with the roller on ratchet wheel and having a cam portion the low part, a ratchet segment on said rst segwhereon said roller rests, said cam portion havment, a. pawl pivoted on a fixed axis to cooperate ing a low part wherein the roller norwith the ratchet segment, and pneumatic means mally rests to permit engagement of the pawl 95 controlled by the position of the foremost sheet for and ratchet and having a high part for permitoperating said pawl. ting osclllation of the pawl free from the ratchet,

9. A paper feeding machine having in combimeans for constantly oscillating the pawl arm, nation, a table, a paper feeding roll arranged to said segment normally oscillating with said pawl feed a feathered bank of sheets to and along the arm and with the roller on the low part, a ratchet 100 table, a ratchet wheel geared to the roll to opsegment on said rst segment, a pawl pivoted on erate the same, a swinging pawl arm pivoted cona xed axis to cooperate with the ratchet segcentrically of the ratchet wheel, a pawl pivoted ment, a pneumatic cylinder mounted adjacent at one end to the arm and engaging the ratchet said last pawl, a piston in said cylinder having a 80 wheel at its other end, a roller on said pawl, a rod projecting from one end and engaging the 105 segment'pivoted concentrically of the ratchet last pawl, a suction tube connected to the cylinwhecl and having a cam portion whereon said der at the end adjacent the second pawl, a sucroller rests, said cam portion having a low part tion nozzle branching from said tube and open- Wherein the roller normally rests to permit ening through the table beneath the forward end of gagement of the pawl and ratchet and having the foremost sheet, and mechanical means for 110 a high part for permitting oscillation of the pawl lifting the foremost sheet to cause opening of the free from the ratchet, means for constantly osnozzle, said mechanical means acting as a stop cillating the pawl arm, said segment normally for the next sheet be1ow oscillating -with said pawl arm and with the 12. A paper feeding machine having in com- 40 roller on the low part, a ratchet segment on said bination, a table, a paper feeding roll arranged 115 first Segment, a DaWl DiVOt-ed 0n a Xed XiS t0 to feed a feathered bank of sheets to and along cooperate with the ratchet segment, a pneumatic the table, a ratchet wheel geared to the roll to cylinder mounted adjacent said last pawl, a pisoperate the same, a swinging pawl arm pivoted ton in said cylinder having a rod projecting from concentrically of the ratchet wheel, a pawl pivone end and engaging the lasti pawl, a suction oted at one end to the arm and engaging the 120 tube connected to the cylinder at the end adjaratchet wheel at its other end, a roller on said Cent the SeCODd DRWL and a SUCOII DOZZle pawl, a segment pivoted concentrically of the branching from Said tube and Opening through ratchet wheel and having a cam portion Wherethe table beneath the forward end of the foreon said roller rests, said cam portion having a low most sheet. part wherein the roller normally rests to permit 125 10. A paper feeding machine having in comengagement of the pawl and ratchet and having bination, a table, a paper feeding roll arranged a high part for permitting oscillation of the pawl to feed a feathered bank of sheets to and along free from the ratchet, means for constantly osthe table, a-ratchet wheel geared to the roll to cillating the pawl arm, said segment normally operate the same, a swinging pawl arm pivoted oscillating with said pawl arm and with the roller 130 concentrically of the ratchet wheel, a pawl pivon the low part, a ratchet segment on said rst oted at one end to the arm and engaging the segment, a pawl pivoted on a xed axis to coratchet wheel at its other end, a roller on said operate with the ratchet segment, a pneumatic pawl, a segment Vpivoted concentrically of the cylinder mounted adjacent said last pawl, a pis- C? ratchet wheel and having a cam portion whereon ton in said cylinder having a rod projecting from said roller rests, said cam portion having a low one end and engaging the last pawl, a suction part wherein the roller normally rests to permit tube connected to the cylinder at the end adengagement;` of the pawl and ratchet and having jacent the second pawl, a suction nozzle brancha high part for permitting oscillation of the pawl ing from said tube and opening through the table C3 free from the ratchet, means for constantly osbeneath the forward end of the foremost sheet, 140

cillating the pawl arm, said segment normally mechanical means for lifting the foremost sheet oscillating with said pawl arm and with the to cause openmg of the nozzle, said mechanical roller on the low part, a ratchet segment on said means acting as a stop for the next sheet below, rst segment, a pawl pivoted on a fixed axis to and brushes carried by said mechanical means cooperate with the ratchet segment, a pneumatic and engageable with the sheet next the foremost cylinder mounted adjacent said last pawl, a pissheet to separate the two sheets.

ton in said cylinder having a rod projecting from GEORG SPIESS. 

